Anya Amiatka Kharmyndai
Shillong, Aug 22: At four years old, football was simply something he enjoyed playing with his brother. There were no big tournaments, no Minerva Academy Football Club and certainly no aspirations of one day playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. He was just a young boy slowly falling in love with the game in a remote corner of Meghalaya, far from the footballing spotlight of Shillong.
Years later, that simple beginning has developed into a journey that has taken 12-year-old Donald Myrthong to Minerva Academy and some memorable tournaments, including the Helsinki Cup 2026 and Gothia Cup 2026. More importantly, those experiences have instilled in him a belief that playing on the world stage is no longer just a dream, but something that could become a reality in the near future.
Even Donald did not expect to come this far. Asked if he had ever imagined himself playing for Minerva, his answer was a straightforward “No.” Reaching the academy, he said, was surreal, particularly for a boy from Nongstoin, the headquarters of West Khasi Hills, around 100 kilometres from Shillong. It was a moment that showed him just how far football could take him.
Winning the Helsinki Cup and Gothia Cup are now among the biggest achievements of his young career. Asked what those victories meant to him and whether they ranked among his greatest achievements, he said, “Yes, it’s one of my greatest achievements.”
Interestingly, his preferred position is not the one he played during the Gothia Cup. He enjoys playing as a striker, but during the tournament, he played as a centre-back.
Football, especially at a young age, often means adapting to what the team needs, and his experience at the Gothia Cup gave him the opportunity to do exactly that.
But even after the victories and reaching Minerva, Donald is not satisfied with simply looking back at what he has already achieved. His next dream is much bigger. When asked about his next goal after reaching Minerva and winning major tournaments, he said he wants to play for Real Madrid.
It is an ambitious dream, but for someone who has already gone from playing football with his brother at the age of four to competing in international tournaments, dreaming big seems to come naturally.
Real Madrid, however, is not the only goal he has in mind. When asked where he ultimately wants to take his football career, his answer went beyond personal success. He wants to help India qualify for the World Cup.
That ambition says something about how he sees his future in football. It is not only about making it to a famous club or winning more trophies. He also wants to contribute to Indian football and be part of a team that could achieve something the country has been waiting for.
His story is still at an early stage. From those first games with his brother at four years old, to the unexpected opportunity to play for Minerva, and then to winning the Helsinki Cup and Gothia Cup, every step has brought him closer to the player he wants to become.
There is still a long way to go before the dream of playing for Real Madrid or helping India reach the World Cup becomes a reality.
But for now, the journey continues – one match, one position and one goal at a time.
